12 of the Most Anticipated Debuts Coming in 2019

From the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette to the Ford Bronco

3 January, 2019Kelly Pleskot Words,
Manufacturer Photos

3 January, 2019Kelly Pleskot Words,
Manufacturer Photos

From the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette to the Ford Bronco

This past year proved rich in vehicle debuts, from the Toyota RAV4 to the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram 1500. But don’t expect the cadence of reveals to slow down, because 2019 is shaping up to be another whopper. Read on to learn the debuts we’re most looking forward to in the new year.

For an Of-The-Year perspective on what’s ahead, check out Mark Rechtin’s story, Next Year is Here.

2020 Toyota Supra

We’ve been waiting five years for Toyota to bring back the Supra. Ever since it revealed the Supra-styled FT-1 concept in 2014, we’ve been dreaming of how Toyota could revive the sports car. Finally, we learned the model will feature a BMW-sourced turbocharged I-6 engine and boast a 0–60 time of less than five seconds. The two-seater shares a platform with the new BMW Z4, which debuted this past August. Toyota has confirmed the Supra will debut in January at the Detroit auto show, with production to begin sometime in the first half of the year.

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Ford is getting ready to reveal its most powerful production car ever. Expect the new Shelby GT500 to make more than 700 hp from a supercharged V-8. That’ll be an improvement from the last model that made “just” 662 hp. The pony car will appear at the Detroit auto show in January before going on sale in the fall.

2020 Ford Explorer

Ford hasn’t come out with a brand-new Explorer since the 2011 model year. Although it was refreshed for 2016 (the 2019 model is shown above), the Explorer is overdue for some big changes. Fortunately, that’s what Ford is planning. The Explorer will sit on a new platform shared with the Lincoln Aviator. The platform can accommodate front-, rear-, and all-wheel drive, but expect the Explorer to offer the latter two options. A high-performance ST version is also in the cards.

Land Rover Defender

Once forbidden fruit, the Land Rover Defender is bound for our shores after an absence of more than two decades. It will be a much more modern vehicle, with a roomier interior and the latest infotainment system and safety accoutrements. It shares its bones with the Land Rover Discovery.

2020 Ford Bronco

The new Ford Bronco is one of the most anticipated vehicle debuts for 2019, especially for fans of its long-running predecessor. It will make a comeback as a body-on-frame, rear-drive-based SUV. It will sit on the same platform as the new Ford Ranger pickup, and in terms of design, expect it to share a strong resemblance to the Broncos of yesteryear. Ford might unveil the Bronco at an auto show, but the SUV will definitely join the auto show circuit shortly after. The Bronco will come to market in 2020.

Ford “Baby Bronco”

To capitalize on the SUV craze, Ford will introduce an off-road-oriented small crossover nicknamed “baby Bronco.” From what we know so far, it will be front-drive-based and feature unibody construction, sitting on the same architecture as the Ford Focus, EcoSport, and Escape. It’ll be about the same size as the Escape and have design cues from the updated, regular-sized Bronco. Like the Bronco, it might make its formal unveiling at an auto show, but expect it to eventually hit the show floor. Like its body-on-frame Bronco sibling, it will be available in 2020.

Mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette

The long-rumored mid-engine Corvette is finally almost here. Although Chevrolet has yet to officially confirm the mid-engine sports car’s existence, numerous camouflaged prototypes have given away the secret. We’ve heard rumors it will offer a 4.2-liter V-8 with 650 hp and a 5.5-liter V-8 that can make 850 hp, but concrete details remain elusive.

Kia Telluride

A customized Kia Telluride made an appearance at New York Fashion Week. Now, the SUV is expected to debut in full production guise in January. The model will top Kia’s lineup and joins a slew of new crossovers coming to the segment, including the Volkswagen Atlas, Subaru Ascent, and the upcoming Hyundai Palisade, which shares a platform with the Telluride. The SUV will fit up to eight people, and power will come from a V-6 engine.

Aston Martin DBX

Aston Martin is in the middle of a massive product offensive that will run through 2023. And that process wouldn’t be complete without introducing an SUV. Development prototypes of the DBX look great with their sloped roofs and signature Aston grilles, but we can’t wait to see the vehicle with all its camouflage off. Expect an unveiling in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Volkswagen Golf Mk VIII

The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf won the MotorTrend Car of the Year award when it first came out, so we’re curious to see how much VW will improve the sensible small car in the next iteration. The new Golf (the 2019 model is shown here) will receive a mild hybrid powertrain with a 48-volt electrical system. This will allow it to “coast” with the combustion engine turned off completely, aiding fuel economy.

Porsche 911 992 Variants

We’ve seen the S models, but Porsche still hasn’t debuted the rest of the new 911 lineup. Although Porsche hasn’t announced all the variants, we’re on the watch for the base Carrera and other models, and we’re particularly eager to see a potent version like the Turbo, GT3, or GT2. Don’t expect any huge design changes, though. The new 911 S models feature minimal styling updates, including small tweaks to the headlights and bumpers, and a new full-width LED bar in the rear.

Genesis GV80

Genesis was spun off as Hyundai’s luxury brand just three years ago, and it has already made three competent sedans. Now, Hyundai’s premium marque will finally have the chance to cash in on the SUV craze when it introduces the GV80. In 2017, Genesis debuted a concept version equipped with a plug-in hydrogen fuel cell powertrain, but the production model is more likely to use a twin-turbo V-6.